Puzzle



(No Model.)

- A. H. DUNN.

PUZZLE.

No. 416,258. Patented Den 3, 18 89.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT I-l. DUNN, OF MINERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,258, dated December 3, 1889.

7 Application filed May 13, 1889- Serial No. 310,496. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minersville, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I do declare the following to be a'full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices for affording recreation and amusement and for testing the skill and steadiness of nerve of the person engaged g It relates more especially to that class of puzzles in which one or more movable objectsare caused to pass from a starting-point to a predetermined destination by a devious course among obstacles and impediments.

My invention consists in a box suitably divided into compartments by walls that have openings here and there for the passage of one or more balls, the bottom of the box being preferably roughened in places to impede the progress of the balls in'rolling from one part of the box to another. 7

The invention is hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, which is a perspective view of my puzzle, is shown an open shallow box A, preferably square, and having sides a. In each corner is a cell B, inclosed by the sides a and two partitions b, projecting at right angles to the sides. An opening or door I) is left between the adjacent ends of the two partitions, affording access tothe cell. On two opposite sides of the box, and midway between two of the cells B, is a cell 0, composed of the side a and a partition 0, having right-angled end wings, which extend toward the side a, but are of such a length as to leave a door 0' at each end of the cell. In the center of the box is arranged a compartment or court D, preferably rectangular, having partition-walls cl and a gate d at one end. Sufficient space is left between this compartment and the adjacent ones, and

also the sides of the box, to permit the easy passage of a ball E. The doors I) c and gate (1' are also wide enough for the ball to pass freely through them. There are preferably six of these balls E, and the game or puzzle consists. in placing them all in the central court D, as shown, and then manipulating the device in such a way that the balls will be distributed among the six cells B and 0, one in each, as indicated in dotted lines, without touching the balls or allowing them to touch each other. In order to increase the difticulty of performing this feat, the bottom of the box is suitably indented or otherwise roughened, as by punch-marks a, inside of and all around the central court D, while the bottom of the cells B and O and those portions of the box adjacent to them are left smooth, as shown. The indentations impede the balls while they are rolling toward the proper cells, and the smoothness of the bottoms of the cells aggravates the natural tendency of the balls to roll out of them.

The shape of the box and its compartments may be varied to suit the taste of the maker or user; but the square or rectangular form shown is thought to be the simplest and best. It can be made of sheet metal, wood, paper, or any other suitable material or materials, and may be lined with ornamental fabric, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The box A, containing in each corner a cell B, provided with a door I), and containing also a central compartment D, provided with a gate (1, in combination with a series of movable objects corresponding in number with said cells, substantially as described.

2. The box A, containing the corner cells B, the cells C on opposite sides of the box,

and the central court or compartment D, all provided with openings in their partitionwalls, in combination with a series of movable objects corresponding in number with said cells, substantially as described.

3. The box A, having a central court D and In testimony whereof I affix my signature cells B 0, arranged along the sides of the in presence of two Witnesses. box, all provided with gates, in combination with a series of movable objects oorrespond- ALBERT ll. DUNN. 5 ing in number with the cells, the bottom of the box in and immediately around the cen- \Vitnesses:

tral court being roughened, as by punch- CHAS. N. BRUMM,

marks a, substantially as described. JOHN W. \VOODWARD. 

